Yuba College board approves lighting retrofits

LAKE COUNTY -- At its Jan. 10 meeting, the Yuba Community College District governing board approved a project to retrofit antiquated parking lot lighting that will save the district a total of $3,213,425 over a 25-year period. The project, funded in part by a California Energy Commission (CEC) low-interest loan, will improve lighting efficiency at Yuba College, Woodland Community College and the Clear Lake Campus.

In addition, the district entered into a partnership with PG&E to receive $132,000 in incentives through the California Community Colleges and Investor-Owned Utility Energy Efficiency Partnership Rebate Program.

Exterior lights, including pathway, flood and canopy lights, as well as parking lot lights will be upgraded to Light Emitting Diode (LED) Technology at the three campuses.

Most of the current lighting is either a medial halide, mercury vapor or high pressure sodium fixtures aged 15 years and older. Replacement of these fixtures with LED technology will reduce energy consumption by 63 percent, saving the district an estimated $76,242 in the first year alone.

"This is a fiscally positive project," YCCD Director of Facilities Planning George Parker said. The new LED lighting system has a life cycle of 25 years. During that time it will produce 50- to 75-percent less energy, require less maintenance and have extended hours of operation.

Parker added that the LED lighting system delivers a clean, white light that is closer to daylight.

According to Parker, the use of LED lighting will improve light levels and will enhance campus safety. Yuba Community College District has 1,747 interior and exterior lighting fixtures that produce a baseline usage of 881,000 kilowatt hours.

"This is a sound decision that more than pays for itself between the energy savings and the avoided costs to continue to replace the expensive old style light," YCCD Chancellor Douglas Houston said. "The district will redirect the annual and overall cost savings into academic program support."

For more information, visit www.yccd.edu/ or call 530-741-8949. Contact the Clear Lake Campus at 995-7900.